Bicycle antitheft control device, shifting device and shifting system

Abstract

A bicycle antitheft device includes an antitheft mechanism switchable between an antitheft state and a release state, wherein the antitheft mechanism includes a first member that moves relative to a second member to move the bicycle forward and backward. A movement controlling mechanism hinders the first member from moving relative to the second member when the antitheft mechanism is in the antitheft state, and a selection mechanism is provided for selecting one of the antitheft state and the release state. Alternatively, the antitheft mechanism may include a sound generator for generating a sound when the first member moves relative to the second member and the antitheft mechanism is in the antitheft state. The movement controlling mechanism and the sound generator may be combined into a single antitheft mechanism. The movement controlling mechanism and/or sound generator may be installed inside of an internal transmission such as a hub or crank transmission, or they could be installed inside a handlebar control for the transmission.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A bicycle antitheft device comprising: 
       an antitheft mechanism switchable between an antitheft state and a release state;  
       wherein the antitheft mechanism includes:  
       a rotatable first member that rotates relative to a second member to move the bicycle forward and backward;  
       wherein the first member comprises a hub shell, and wherein the second member comprises a hub axle;  
       a movement controlling mechanism that hinders the first member from rotating relative to the second member when the antitheft mechanism is in the antitheft state;  
       a planetary gear mechanism including:  
       a sun gear that rotates around the axle;  
       a planet gear that engages the sun gear; and  
       a ring gear that engages the planet gear; and  
       a selection mechanism for selecting one of the antitheft state and the release state.  
     
     
       2. The device according to claim  1  wherein the movement controlling mechanism is disposed between the hub shell and the hub axle. 
     
     
       3. The device according to claim  2  wherein the movement controlling mechanism is disposed between the sun gear and the hub axle. 
     
     
       4. The device according to claim  3  further comprising: 
       a first clutch mechanism for preventing the sun gear from rotating around the axle in one direction; and  
       wherein the movement controlling mechanism comprises a second clutch mechanism for preventing the sun gear from rotating around the axle in an opposite direction.  
     
     
       5. The device according to claim  2  wherein the selection mechanism comprises a sleeve rotatably supported by the axle, and wherein the movement controlling mechanism comprises: 
       a moving member nonrotatably fixed relative to the hub axle, wherein the moving member moves axially relative to the hub axle in response to rotation of the sleeve;  
       a braking member rotatably supported by the moving member, wherein the braking member includes an engagement mechanism for nonrotatably engaging the hub shell so that the braking member rotates relative to the moving member when the moving member is disposed in a first axial position and for disengaging the hub shell when the moving member is disposed in a second axial position; and  
       a second biasing member for pressing the braking member against the moving member.  
     
     
       6. The device according to claim  5  further comprising a contact pressure adjusting mechanism for adjusting a contact pressure between the braking member and the moving member. 
     
     
       7. A bicycle antitheft device comprising: 
       an antitheft mechanism switchable between an antitheft state and a release state;  
       wherein the antitheft mechanism includes:  
       a first member that moves relative to a second member to move the bicycle in a forward direction and in a backward direction; and  
       a sound generator for generating a sound when the first member moves relative to the second member to move the bicycle in at least one of the forward direction and the backward direction and the antitheft mechanism is in the antitheft state without preventing continued movement of the bicycle in the at least one of the forward direction and the backward direction; and  
       a selection mechanism for selecting one of the antitheft state and the release state.  
     
     
       8. A bicycle antitheft device comprising: 
       an antitheft mechanism switchable between an antitheft state and a release state;  
       wherein the antitheft mechanism includes:  
       a first member that moves relative to a second member to move the bicycle in a forward and backward; and  
       a sound generator for generating a sound when the first member moves relative to the second member and the antitheft mechanism is in the antitheft state;  
       a selection mechanism for selecting one of the antitheft state and the release state; and  
       wherein the first member comprises a hub shell, and wherein the second member comprises a hub axle.  
     
     
       9. The device according to claim  8  wherein the sound generator is disposed between the hub shell and the hub axle. 
     
     
       10. A bicycle antitheft device comprising: 
       an antitheft mechanism switchable between an antitheft state and a release state;  
       wherein the antitheft mechanism includes:  
       a first member that moves relative to a second member to move the bicycle in a forward direction and in a backward direction;  
       a movement controlling mechanism that hinders the first member from moving relative to the second member when the antitheft mechanism is in the antitheft state; and  
       a sound generator for generating a sound when the first member moves relative to the second member to move the bicycle in at least one of the forward direction and the backward direction and the antitheft mechanism is in the antitheft state without preventing continued movement of the bicycle in the at least one of the forward direction and the backward direction; and  
       a selection mechanism for selecting one of the antitheft state and the release state.